Let's Talk Bock

Personally, I think it tastes like it has actual dead guys in it. Maybe that's why Newport doesn't have a homeless problem?

 

I found it today in my Aldi, and it was the last 4-pack. ($6.99 + tax and dep. for 500 ml. cans.) It's a very good beer, but it strikes me as more of a Helles Lager than a Maibock. The amazing thing is that I don't see how they can produce that beer for that price.

 

It's 7.2% abv. And it has a lot more malt flavor than at least Paulaner Original or Hacker-Pschorr Gold (I mention those two because they were two helles' at a beer tasting I went to recently.

Edit: And I got more bitterness from it as well, but it is definitely on the pale/light side of the Heller Bock.

 

Very odd. When I had it a couple years back it was definitely more Maibock than Helles, albeit more on the dry, hot alcohol side than sweet.

As to the price point, probably just highlights retail mark-up.

Gonna see if I can find some today.

 

Scored some today, and they had a few 4 packs so I grabbed 2 (same price, BTW, without deposit). Having one with lunch.

Tastes about the same as I reviewed it in 2016; pretty hot from alcohol and finishing dry (nearly astringent) because of that, but a good, bready sweetness underlying. Mine was canned Feb 22, 2018 -- ink-jetted to the can's bottom.

I might have to lay a couple of these down to see if the alcohol mellows any. Otherwise, it's a nice Maibock -- far too hot to be a Helles.

 

I'll have to pay attention more closely when I drink my next one, but I didn't notice any alcohol when I had one last night. My cans have the same canning date as your's.

 

It's a peppery (like black pepper) spiciness in the nose, finish and aftertaste.

 

I drank another tonight and was looking for the alcohol, but it was very, very minor or it was the power of suggestion that I tasted. Maybe my taste buds are shot.

I did a side-by-side with the Hofbrau version too, and I liked the Feldschlößchen a little bit better. It had a nicer aroma, and the taste was just a bit more malty. (It was slightly darker in color too.) Both were 7.2% abv.

 

I agree. To me the beer is just a bit boozy & sweet, but it's a really solid maibock that I wish we could get year-round. Plus the half-liter cans are great.

 

I wish I had some HB leftover to compare with the Feld -- from memory I would have said the opposite of your observations.

 

The krug I have is a stoneware mug, very much like this:
See the etymolgy section of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_stein.
Yes, Einbecker Urbock was the original bock.

 

Thanks, I deduced it was 0.5l size but wasn't sure it was limited to a stone style mug.
Curious, familiar with 'seidel' of beer from Franaconia?
Seidel is a glass or mug of beer with assumption 0.5l.

 

Celebrator looks the most delicious!

 

Yes, those I've seen are 0.5 l. I've heard the word 'seidel' but I didn't know what it was. The wikipedia page with the picture I posted called it a "Humpen." I don't remember ever seeing that word before. I wonder if some of these aren't in particular dialects.

 

Maßkrug is not .5l, it's a full liter -- and yes, can be glass or clay.

The modern Maßkrug is slightly larger than 1 litre, with a Füllstrich (de) (calibration mark) denoting the level to which the beer must be filled to allow room for its head to expand. Using mugs without a calibration mark, or with a mark that is below the true 1 litre position, is also prosecuted as fraud. A "Coalition against fraudulent pouring [of beer]" ("Verein gegen betrügerisches Einschenken") in Munich fights for the customer rights of beer drinkers, and is mostly active on the Oktoberfest.

And a plain ol' Krug doesn't really have a size designation/definition. I have a .25l clay HB Krug on my desk that I use for special occasions -- usually a good Doppelbock, and I've seen them at 2 liters.

 

Isn't seidla a really specific term for a 1/2L pour in Franconia? In at least one book I have they mention that most people wouldn't be familiar with it.

 

Chris, that was my understanding as well.

Below is from the FrankenWiki (FranconiaWiki):

“Ein Seidla, ein Seidel, ist in Franken ein Bierkrug oder Bierglas mit einem halben Liter Bier.”

http://franken-wiki.de/index.php/Seidla

halben Liter Bier = half liter of beer.

Cheers!

 

Humpen is German for Tankard.

Seidel is synonymous with Stein, but yes -- is probably more to Franconian dialect.

 

Had a liter in Berlin a couple weeks ago... so damn tasty!

 

After finally finding some of this year's HB Maibock again, I did my own side-by with the Feldschlößchen. Let me be up front and say that I like both of these beers and would never turn either down, given the opportunity to enjoy one or the other.

That said, Mothergoose and I must have different beers available to each of us...
My HB is clearly amber and my Feld is gold.



I also find the HB sweet, bready and smooth. The Feld is mildly sweet, more light in its breadiness, and peppery to dry with a highly attenuated, dry alcohol character. Goes to show that 7.2 can be a world of difference depending on the brewery or brewmaster.

But again, both beers are worth a try for anyone who likes Maibock, German lagers, or plain good beer.